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Veteran politican Deb Matthews keeps London North Centre seat

A jubliant Deb Matthews enters her victory party after winning the riding of London North Centre in London, Ontario on Thursday, June 12, 2014. Matthews was health minister and deputy premier in the last parliament. DEREK RUTTAN/ The London Free Press /QMI AGENCY

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A jubilant Deb Matthews is hanging onto London North Centre — the only Liberal victory in the 10-riding London region.

Matthew told cheering supporters the Liberal agenda is back on track.

“I am energized, I am focused and I can’t wait to get back to work,” the Ontario health minister and deputy premier said.

“We are going to reintroduce the budget and this time pass it.”

Supporters broke into wild cheers as TV networks declared her elected about 10 p.m.

Matthews said Tim Hudak’s plan to cut 100,000 civil service jobs was a turning point in the campaign.

“No doubt about it. People knew what that meant. Everybody know somebody who was fearful of losing their job.”

Matthews managed to hang on against NDP challenger Judy Bryant, who ran a strong second and Progressive Conservative Nancy Branscombe who trailed in third. Both are members of London city councill.

It was Branscombe’s second attempt to knock off Matthews — she was the PC candidate in 2011 but lost by 6,000 votes.

Matthews carried the hopes of her party as the only surviving Liberal in 10 London-area ridings. Her cabinet colleague, Chris Bentley, resigned last year and his London West seat went to the NDP’s Peggy Sattler in a byelection.

Matthews waged a personally aggressive campaign from the start, showing up when NDP Leader Andrea Horwath was campaigning at Covent Garden Market. This week, she stole the spotlight during a stop by Hudak, showing the media a letter that tried to direct voters to the wrong poll. Matthews was first elected in 2003, knocking off Tory cabinet minister Dianne Cunningham in the redistributed riding.